Ice tray and bin combination



United States Patent 1111 3,545,717

[72] Inventors Joe Emai [56 References Cited will; UNITED STATES PATENTS f rb 6: m 1,879,400 9/1932 Mitchell 249/11 21 A lNO 7416 10 2,435,802 2/1948 Smith 249/73 2 -l 1968 3,311,905 3/1968 Bunnell... 249/69 led 3 1 3,398,552 8/1968 Pietrzak.. 249/69X lig ceguhmmncmnuon 3,182,468 5/1965 Archer 249/77x Detroit, Mlcllt Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser aeorporationofDelaware- AssLrtantExaminer-DeWalden W. Jones 541 'rcn TRAY AND 11m COMBINATION Attorneys-W. E. Finken and Carl A. Stickel ABSTRACT: In the preferred form a rounded plastic ice container has integral transverse partitions and a longitudinal pivot rod. An ejecting means is pivoted on the rod with longitudinal ejecting partitions normally extending from the rod into the container between the partitions. This ejecting means has a set of projections at its opposite ends which, when the tray is inverted over a receiving bin, is adapted to engage notches in the rim at the ends of the bin. The twisting or rocking of the container relative to the ejecting means and the bin causes the frozen contents to be delivered into the bin.

ICE TRAY AND BIN COMBINATION -A number of combinations have been used for ejecting the frozen contents -of containers directly into receiving bins. Some have been reasonably satisfactory but somewhat expensive while some have required so much exertion and skill that they were unacceptable to some persons.

It is an object of this invention to provide a combination bin and container which is simpleand inexpensive and which can be readily operated to eject the frozen contents into the bin with a minimum of exertion and skill.

Further objects and advantages'of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings: I

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through one combination of a tray and bin embodying one form of our invention; j

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the lines 2-2ofFIG. I; iv

FIG. 3 is a fragment'aryrig'ht end view of the container and bin'showninFIGJ; Y I I FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top view of the tray and bin combination shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a modified form ofthe invention; I

FIG. 6 is afragmentary right end view of the combination shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 7-7 ofFIG. 5.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 14, there is shown a receiving bin 20 in the form of a deep rectangular container adapted to hold ice cubes or frozen liquid of any kind. The rim 22 of this container is formed into a double flange and at the midpoint of the oppositeends thereof is provided with alined trapezoidal shaped notches 24.

-The freezing container or ice tray 26-is shown in the inverted position over the bin 20. It is filled with water or other liquid in the normal upright position and frozen in that position in any type of refrigerator. This tray may be formed of any suitable plastic such as high density polyethylene or polypropylene and, as shown, has somewhat semicircular or rounded side and bottom walls'28 which are connected by eight integral transverse partition walls 30. For the purpose of providing lateral stability when resting upon a support in the upright position, the plastic material forming the eight partition walls 30 may be extended'on'the outside of the walls 28 to form the supporting fins 32 having substantially flat bottoms with short feet 34 at the oppositeends thereof. The tray 26 is also provided with an integral plastic rod 38 extending from one end to the other connected: integrally with the partition walls 30 and the front and back portions of the rim 40 of the freezing container or tray 26.

According to our invention, this tray or container is provided with ejecting means 42 which are pivoted on the rod 38. This ejecting means 42 may be formed of twohalves 44 and 46 which are fitted together and bonded together around the rod 38 and have longitudinal partitions 48 parallel to the rod 38 extending into each of the compartments of the tray or container 26 between the partition walls 30 and also between the end partition walls and the opposite ends of the tray or container 26. Projecting in the opposite direction fromthe longitudinal partitions 48 is i a trapezoidal shaped longitudinal projection 50 extending the entire length of the ejecting means which connects the longitudinal partitions 48 into a substantially rigid unit. v f

After the tray or container 26. is filled and the liquid therein frozen, it is inverted over the bin 20 with the ends of the projection 50 firmly engaging the notches 24 in the ends of the rim 22 of the receiving bin orcontainer 20. This firmly holds the entire ejecting means 42 and prevents its rotation relative to the bin 20. When the tray or container 26 is rocked about the axis of the rod 38 the pieces 52 of ice or frozen liquid located on opposite sides of the longitudinal partitions 48 will bin 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows the dot-dash outline of thecross section of the tray 26. The tray 26 may be twisted about the rod 38 in either direction or may b'eturned as a unit in either direction about the rod 38 as faras necessary and as often as desired to accomplish the ejection. i

In the form shown in FIGS. 5-7, a similar principle is applied to the plastic bin and the metal tray 126. The metal tray 126 may be formed of a thin aluminum sheet which is annodized and then coated with'a suitable release coating such as polytetrafluoroethylenev or some improved form of wax such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,016,719 issued Jan. 12, 1962. The aluminum tray 126 is provided with a rim I40 and a series of eight transverse walls 130 likewise of aluminum, which are seated in transverse grooves 132 formed in the sides and bottom walls 128 of the traywhich are rounded or substantially semicircular. These are also annodized and similarly coated.

The tray 126 is provided with a longitudinal pivot rod 138 having end projections 139 extending through and being held and supported by the end walls 141 of the tray or container adjacent the rim 140. According to our invention, the longitudinal partition walls 148 of sheet aluminum are wrapped around the rod 138 and have individual projections 149 extending between each of the transverse partition walls 130 into the tray or container 126 to form the ejecting means 142. These projections 149 extend just out of contact with the transverse walls 130 and the walls 128 of the tray or container. The portion around the rod 138 is continuous to provide a connection between the individual projections 149 forming the longitudinal partition walls 148.

Bonded to the ends of the ejecting means 142 on the opposite side from the individual projections of the longitudinal partition walls 148 are the metal brackets 150 which extend .into the notches 124 provided adjacent the rim 122 in the opfar as and as often as necessary to eject the frozen contents directly into the bin 120. Little or no skill is required and the exertion required is moderate. The number of parts are few and the construction is simple.

While the embodimentsof the invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

We claim:

1. In the combination of a receiving bin and a congealing container adapted to be placed in an inverted position over the receiving bin, an ejector means movable within said congealing container for ejecting congealed liquid therefrom, wherein the improvement comprises providing said bin with means for engaging and supporting said ejector means and preventing rotation of said ejector means relative to said bin, said container being movable relative to said bin and said ejector means when said ejector means engages said bin to eject congealed liquid therefrom.

2. In the combination of a receiving bin and a congealing container adapted to be placed in an inverted position over the receiving bin, an ejector means movable within said con gealing container for ejecting congealed liquid therefrom, wherein the improvement comprises providing said bin with a set of holding notches for receiving and supporting said ejector means and preventing rotation of said ejector means relative to bin, said container being movable relative to said bin and said ejector means when said ejector means engages said bin to eject frozen liquid therefrom.

3. In the combination of a receiving bin having a rim and a congealing container adapted to be placed in an inverted position over the receiving bin and ejector means within said congealing container having ejecting projections pivotally mounted upon and normally extending within said congealing container for ejecting congealed liquid therefrom, wherein the improvement comprises providing the rim of said bin with means for engaging and holding and supporting said ejector means and substantially preventing rotation of said ejector means relative to said bin, said container being movable relative to said bin and said ejector means when said ejector means engages said bin to eject congealed liquid therefrom.

4. In the combination of a receiving bin having a rim and a congealing container adapted to be placed in an inverted position over the receiving bin and ejector means within said congealing container for ejecting congealed liquid therefrom having oppositely extending projections pivotally mounted upon said congealing container with one set extending into the container, wherein the improvement comprises providing the rim of said bin with a set of holding notches for engaging and holding and supporting a second set of said oppositely extending projections and preventing rotation of said projections relative to said bin, said container being rotatable relative to said bin and said ejector means when said projections of said ejector means engage said bin to eject congealed liquid therefrom. 

